African violet plant

ABSTRACT

An African violet plant characterized by upright and strong flower stems bearing non-dropping, violet blooms above the leaves.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Florida.

Florida is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating a new African violet cultivar with large,generally violet flowers, upright and strong flower stems, uniformbouquet, prolonged blooming period with non-dropping flowers, andvigorous growth. These traits in combination were not present inpreviously available commercial cultivars.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by me in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany. The female, or seedparent was XIX 4256 violet blue, an unpatented cultivar having a colorbetween 1-14 and 1-15 (Horticultural Color Chart of Wilson Colour,Ltd.). The male, or pollen parent was XIX 4158 dark red, alsounpatented, color 44-14.

The new cultivar Florida was discovered and selected as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross by me in a controlledenvironment in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany. Asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar by leaf cuttings and by division of shoots, asperformed by me at Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany, has demonstrated thatthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany, under greenhouse conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Florida which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Strong, upright flower stems.

2. Fast and vigorous growth.

3. Compact and very floriferous flower bouquet, and uniform blooming.

4. Long blooming period.

5. Non-dropping flowers.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to theHorticultural color chart issued by Wilson Colour Ltd., except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary significance are obvious.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv. Florida.

Parentage:

Male parent.--XIX 4158 dark red.

Female parent.--XIS 4256 violet blue.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant:

Size.--From 8 cm. to 10 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately22 cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General Form: Round to oval (heart-shaped). Diameter: 55-60 mm.Texture: Soft. Aspect: Velvety and hairy. Veins: From underside, wellpronounced. Color (upperside): Young leaves 21-15, old leaves 18-15.Color (underside): Grey-green, with parts reddish. Petiole: Green toreddish on young leaves; old leaves on underside between 44-14 and44-15.

Flowers.--Buds: Globular, approximately 7-9 mm. before opening. Sepals:Color: Brown. Calyx: Funnel-shaped, synsepalous. Aspect: Hairy outside.Peduncle: Brown-green.

Individual flowers.--Size: 40-45 mm. in diameter. Color: Upperside:47-9. Underside: 46-5. Borne: Profusely in a central flower head. Shape:5 petals, 2 small, 3 larger, almost flat. Arrangement: Strong andupright peduncles forming a compact flowerhead. Flowering time:Depending on temperature and light conditions, approximately 3-5 weeksfrom visible bud to flower.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two cells and two anthers. Anthers: Color26-6. Arrangement: basifixed. Filaments: 4 mm. long, color 26-2. Styles:Color 46-9 on upper. Pollen color: 26-1. Roots: Well developed rootsystem. Disease resistance: Good, as experienced to date. Generalobservations: This plant is a vigorous grower and comes uniformly inbloom. Approximately 5-6 weeks after potting the cultivar shows thefirst flowers and a bouquet of flower stems with 5-8 flowers. 40-45 mm.in diameter. The flowers do not drop from the stems after witheringthereby avoiding damage due to botrytis from fallen blossoms. Diameterof the open flowerhead is 12-15 cm. The foliage tends to spread radiallyoutward from the flower at the center of the plant, with the flowersbeing free above the leaves.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet plant known bythe cultivar name Florida and particularly characterized as touniqueness by the combined characteristics of compact and floriferousflower bouquet, with the flower being supported on strong, uprightflower stems; fast and vigorous growth; uniform blooming; non-droppingflowers, and the bouquet being above the leaves which spread radiallyoutward from the center of the plant.